News and Announcements
INFORMATION FROM PEKIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
(Facebook page posts 3/26/20)
Scams regarding COVID-19
U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser, Central District of Illinois, is reminding the public to be aware and alert to individuals and entities that prey upon people’s anxieties and fear surrounding the current public health crisis, particularly those most vulnerable, to illegally benefit themselves.
In partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies the U.S. Attorney's office is making it a priority to detect, investigate, and prosecute anyone who attempts to take advantage of the anxieties and uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud others. Remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
If you see attempted fraud of others or if you or a loved one become a victim of such fraud, please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline: 1-866-720-5721, or email: disaster@leo.gov The NCDF serves as a national clearinghouse for the Department of Justice to receive and coordinate complaints with federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.
To see the full release go https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/us-attorney-milhiser-urges-public-remain-vigilant-alert-and-report-frauds-scams-related
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Another post from the Pekin Police Department's Facebook page as of 3/26/2020
UnityPoint Health Visitor Respiratory Triage Line
Unity Point Health® – Central Illinois, has launched a local Respiratory Triage Call Center. If you believe you need to be tested for COVID-19 please contact the Respiratory Referral Line at (309) 680-2850 for evaluation.
UnityPoint Health staff will ask the caller a series of questions to determine if testing is needed. At this point, the caller will be provided with directions or next steps. Call Center Hours of Operation: Call (309) 680-2850 for evaluation Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The most important thing everyone can do is continue to practice social distancing. Social distancing refers to public health interventions that can help stop infectious disease transmission by avoiding crowds and large gatherings such as weddings, concerts, conferences, sporting events, and mass transit. Best practice requires maintaining at least a six-foot distance between yourself and others.
The CDC recommends the following:
• Wash your hands properly—and often—or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19
• Practice social distancing
• Stay home if you aren’t feeling well
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Wear a face mask only if you are sick, or if you’re caring for someone who is sick
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
For more ways to protect against the spread of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, and for the latest updates and guidance in this rapidly evolving situation, please visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Peoria City and County Health Department, Tazewell Health Department , and Illinois Department of Public Health.
LOBBY CLOSURE EFFECTIVE 3/20/20 (DATE CHANGE)
LOBBY CLOSURE
Effective Monday, March 20th
The well being of our MEMBERS and STAFF is of utmost importance to TCSECU.
In light of the CDC suggestions of social distancing and prevention of spreading
the Coronavirus, we have decided to CLOSE our LOBBY until further notice.
All transactions will be processed thru our Drive Up Window.
In an effort to keep the Drive Up running smoothly and efficiently,
we ask that you do the following:
-- Know your account number.
-- Please have deposits ready when you reach the window.
-- If you want cash in certain denominations, please know what
you need before reaching the window.
--If you need account history information, please call our office.
Please note that if you have numerous or complicated transactions, you
may be asked to pull into the parking spaces while we process your transactions.
Our Drive Up Window will remain OPEN the following hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9AM-5PM
Tuesday & Saturday 9AM-NOON
Other ways for our members to transact business is to use our online banking, Virtual Branch, to obtain their account information and to transfer funds between their accounts.
Our Debit cards are accepted at all CO-OP ATM locations and any merchant accepting VISA.
Please watch our website or Facebook page for updates.
We appreciate your patience during this time of change!
FRAUDULENT E-MAILS / SOCIAL MEDIA SITES (CORONAVIRUS)
Fraudsters are constantly at work trying to get your personal information (log in IDs, and passwords among other items). They are using the public’s interest in the Coronavirus to launch phishing attacks to steal credential information thru malware.
It is reported that they send out e-mails that appear to come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that include an attachment or link to a malicious website.
The fraudsters have also developed fake Coronavirus interactive maps (that resemble the real Johns Hopkins University’s interactive Coronavirus dashboard) that infect user devices with malware to steal credential information. They are spreading links to the fake websites containing Coronavirus maps thru social media and phishing e-mails.
Some other phishing campaigns include: -- Coronavirus advice-themed phishing e-mails that provide advice on how to protect against the virus. The e-mails may claim to be from experts from China near where the Coronavirus began.
-- Business workplace-themed phishing emails sent to employees supposedly from the company’s HR department alerting employees of new policies in light of the Coronavirus.
Please use caution when opening e-mails or social media stories!
TURBO TAX DISCOUNTS
IT'S TAX TIME...
TCSECU wants to help our members file their taxes for less this year. By going to the link below, you can get a discount on the cost of filing your taxes with Turbo Tax. If the link doesn't work, copy and paste it into your internet address bar.
http://turbotax.intuit.com/affiliate/fiservmaster
To deposit your tax refund in your TCSECU account, you will need the following information:
** Our routing number is 271187574
** Designate if the deposit will go into your TCSECU savings or checking account along with your account number. Remember, if refund is be deposited into your checking account, please use the account number printed on the bottom of your checks.
****** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ******
Make sure that the refund is ONLY deposited into an account that the taxpayer is the primary or joint owner of.
Please be aware that deposits can only be accepted for a savings or checking account that has the tax payer's name as the primary member and/or joint member of an account.
(Example: Primary member on an account is John Public and joint member is Jane Public. Tax refund for Joe Public is sent to John Public's account to be deposited. The tax refund will be returned to the IRS since Joe Public is not on John Public's account.)
TAX FRAUD TIPS
Tax season is upon us which also means fraudsters will be working hard to find new ways to scam unsuspecting people.
Fraudsters may use the following methods to gain personal information:
Robo calls saying that your Social Security number is going to be suspended or cancelled due to taxes owed. This tricks people into calling the phone number provided.
FYI—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says a person’s Social Security number will never get suspended. Also, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) only contacts taxpayers thru regular mail or in-person.
E-mails and persons claiming to be from the IRS reminding you to file your taxes or offering information about your refund.
The e-mails collect any information you input helping the fraudsters with identity theft. They can also infect your computer with malware which can allow for data stored on your computer to be stolen. The person calling may ask you to verify or supply personal information which will help the fraudsters with identity theft.
Legitimate looking letters that claim to be from the Bureau of Tax Enforcement (may mention the IRS) ordering immediate payment.
FYI—There is no Bureau of Tax Enforcement.
Fraudsters that pose as tax preparers.
They will charge you to prepare your tax paperwork but they don’t sign the return as the preparer. Some fraudsters lie on the return to get you credits you haven’t qualified for or fill out paperwork in such a way that will get you in trouble. Due to the fact that they didn’t sign the tax return as preparer, you will be responsible for any errors. The fraudster will have your tax preparation fee and you will have to repay the money owed to the IRS and you may be subject to an audit.
ILLINOIS UNCLAIMED PROPERTY LAW HAS CHANGED
NOTICE TO CREDIT UNION MEMBERS REGARDING UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
The State of Illinois has enacted a new law governing unclaimed property held in the State. The Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act went into effect on January 1, 2018. Under this Act, the presumptive period of abandonment for deposit accounts changed from 5 years to 3 years.
As a result, accounts without any owner activity for a 3 year period will be turned over to the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, upon completion of the owner notification procedure and subject to the criteria set forth in the Act.
INACTIVE ACCOUNT FEES
Share ‘A’ savings accounts that have had no deposit, withdrawal or transfer activity for 12 months will be considered an Inactive Account. A $6.00 quarterly inactive fee will be accessed on these accounts. In order to avoid a quarterly fee, you must make a deposit, withdrawal or transfer on the account once every 12 months (on a rolling calendar, not calendar year). The transaction can be as little as $1.00. Dividends and Inactivity fees do not count as activity.